brand

¹

[brand]

noun

1. the kind, grade, or make of a product or service, as indicated by a stamp, trademark, or the like.

   the best brand of coffee.

2. a mark made by burning or otherwise, to indicate kind, grade, make, ownership, etc.

3. a mark formerly put upon criminals with a hot iron.

4. any mark of disgrace; stigma.

   Synonyms: taint, blot, spot, stain

5. branding iron.

6. a kind or variety of something distinguished by some distinctive characteristic.

   The movie was filled with slapstick—a brand of humor he did not find funny.

7. a set of distinctive characteristics that establish a recognizable image or identity for a person or thing.

   Building your personal brand will positively impact your career.

8. a burning or partly burned piece of wood.

9. Archaic.,  a sword.

verb (used with object)

1. to label or mark with or as if with a brand.

2. to mark with disgrace or infamy; stigmatize.

3. to impress indelibly.

   The plane crash was branded on her mind.

4. to give a brand name to.

   branded merchandise.

5. to promote as a brand or brand name.

Brand

²

[brand]

noun

1. Oscar, 1920–2016, U.S. folk singer, born in Canada.

2. a male given name.

brand

¹

/ brænd /

noun

1. a particular product or a characteristic that serves to identify a particular product

2. a trade name or trademark

3. a particular kind or variety

   he had his own brand of humour

4. an identifying mark made, usually by burning, on the skin of animals or (formerly) slaves or criminals, esp as a proof of ownership

5. an iron heated and used for branding animals, etc

6. a mark of disgrace or infamy; stigma

   he bore the brand of a coward

7. a burning or burnt piece of wood, as in a fire

8. archaic

   1. a flaming torch

   2. a sword

9. a fungal disease of garden plants characterized by brown spots on the leaves, caused by the rust fungus Puccinia arenariae

verb

1. to label, burn, or mark with or as with a brand

2. to place indelibly in the memory

   the scene of slaughter was branded in their minds

3. to denounce; stigmatize

   they branded him a traitor

4. to give a product a distinctive identity by means of characteristic design, packaging, etc

Brand

²

/ brænd /

noun

1. Russell , born 1975, English comedian and television presenter

Other Word Forms

• brander noun
• brandless adjective
• nonbrand adjective
• rebrand verb (used with object)
• branding noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brand¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English, Old English: “burning, a burning piece of wood, torch, sword”; cognate with Dutch brand, German Brand, Old Norse brandr; akin to burn ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of brand¹

Old English brand- , related to Old Norse brandr , Old High German brant ; see _burn ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on brand, in keeping with the distinctive characteristics that establish a recognizable identity for a person, product, or thing: He says he wants to be more compassionate, but that’s not really on brand for him.

   The hotel’s interactive website is so on brand.

   He says he wants to be more compassionate, but that’s not really on brand for him.

Example Sentences

Procter & Gamble Co., the company behind household brands including Pampers, Gillette, Crest and Tide reported first-fiscal-quarter results that topped Wall Street’s expectations early Friday as the company shrugged off a challenging consumer environment.

Read more on MarketWatch

“When we’re launching a new movie like this, any time it’s brand spanking new, it takes a little more work to get retailers excited,” Lee said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Koch, who returned as CEO in August, said the company is encouraged by positive reactions to its Sun Cruiser brand innovation and a second consecutive quarter of growth for its Angry Orchard business.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, some McDonald’s restaurants have pulled the brand’s popular “Dollar Drinks” promotion from menus.

Read more on Salon

Mr. Starmer thought he was doing China a favor by not branding it an “enemy.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• idle 
• untapped 
• vacant